Zee receives approvals for sports channel

Mumbai:Zee Network today said it has received all approvals for uplinking of its proposed sports channel to be launched on October 2, but refused to divulge any contingent plan in the event it loses the legal battle over the cricket matches telecast rights.

"The test signals for the sports channel would start in a day or two and the cable operators who have subscribed for it can receive it," Zee chairman Subhash Chandra said at the annual general meeting here.

The company had terminated its agreement with MGM three months before the latter's merger with Sony and it would not have any impact on the company, he said adding, Zee is sourcing good English movies from libraries elsewhere in the world.

The company has so far incurred about Rs 23 lakh towards legal expenses for the court battle over the cricket telecast rights which could go up to Rs 1.5 crore, he said.

To a query whether Zee has any experience for producing cricket matches, Subhash Chandra said cricket matches are produced by third party specialists and ESPN-Star Sports also did not have any experience.

He said Zee has earlier bid thrice for the telecast of cricket matches but had lost to the highest bidder.

As a part of its growth strategy, the company would focus on the subscription revenues.